Hurricane Florence worries former Topsail Beach, current South Bend resident

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Hurricane Florence is affecting people right here in Michiana. One woman who lives here now, but used to live in North Carolina and still has friends there, said she's distraught.  

South Bend native Katie Wassenhove lived near Topsail Beach, North Carolina for the past few years. In November, she moved back to South Bend, but said her mind and heart are in the Carolinas today. 

Wassenhove described Topsail and all of the beach towns along the Carolinas as friendly towns where everyone treats each other like family. She says her friends down there are saying the storm surge is already impacting homes and businesses. 

Wassenhove said it is emotional to see her home away from home deal with this storm. 

"They're having to leave their homes and places that I know so well and places that they're used to and that they feel safe," said Wassenhove. "They don't know if they're going to come back to that. I hate having to see them go through that." 

Wassenhove added it's comforting to see the South Bend Fire Department and other first responders from Michiana helping out people down south.